Apparatus for cleaning lubricant cases of engines



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,702

W. L. OSBORNE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES OF ENGINES FiledFteb. 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l N 'N .r k j@ w Feb. 19, 1929. v 1,702,702

w. 1,. osBoRNE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING LUBRICANT CASES 0F ENGINES FiledFeb. 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ f( U 1 'y' L 1 f Patented Feb. 19,1929.

' UNITED STATES 1,702,702 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. OSBORNE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECTMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OSBORNE PROCESS, INC., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION F CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOB CLEANING LUBBICANT CASES OF ENGINES.

Application' mea February 4, 1927. serial No. 165,854.

which may be closed by theV adjustable and .i

This invention relates to improvements in process and apparatus forcleaning lubricant cases of engines, and -1s 'more particularly adaptedto cleaning crank cases and the transmission and differential cases ofmotor vehicles, such as automobiles, motor trucks, and-the like.However, the invention is also adapted for use in cleaninglubricantcases of engines generally, as, for example, motors on trolleycars, Diesel engines, boats, airplane engines, or the lilke.

The objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter moreclearly appear from the following description, but, broadly speaking,the purpose is to effectively and lsimply clean the case containing thelubricant together with the mechanism' enclosed in such case. To thisend, the process and apparatus is carried out and operated, first bypreferably draining off the dirty oil or lubricant, and then forciblycirculating a flushing oil through the case and around the mechanismcontained therein.

The apparatusis not only relatively compact and simple of manufacture,beingdevoid of any mechanism or parts liable to get out of order, but isespecially characterized by tht` facility with which it can be broughtint-o communication with, and detached from,

the c rank case of the automobile or other part that is to be speedilycleaned. In addition to this feature, the cleaning is carried out muchmore effectively than in the methods and in the apparatus now generallyin use. y

As a feature of the invention, I provide the apparatus with means forfiltering the flushing oil as it is circulated through' the member thatis being cleaned.

In the drawings,

Fig-lis a more or less diagrammatic view showing the complete method ofcleaning the lubricant case, in this instance, the crank case of amotor; 4 v Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view 'of the cleaningapparatus proper;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsectionof the same;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views of the lug :which may be used to reducethe flow rom the cases of certain types of motors.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly Fig. 1, 1 designates themotor of the engine to be cleaned, having va drain hole 2,

tively.

removable plug 3 hereinafter more fully described. 4 illustrates thefeed inlet for the crank case. Below the motor, preferably in a pit 5,is mounted a drip pan 6, which ma be mounted on a swinging joint 7through w ichthe pan is adapted to receive the dirty oil as it drainsout of the motor.

The dirty oil flows from v the dri pan 6 i throu h the line 8 into thedrain h er 9 and then t rough check valvey 10 into the dirty oil storagetank 11. This storage tank 11 may be located underground as shown, or itmay be placed above the ground as desired. Afterthe oil has been drainedout of the crank case,

Athe cock 12 in line 8 is turned so. as to cut the line 8 from theheader 9 and connect it tothe pipe 13. To this pipe 13 may be detachablysecured flexible hose connection 14,' referably mounted on a suitabletruck 15 ig. 2) having wheels 16. In the present instance, the device isequipped with a tank 17 for receiving new flushing oil and forming ineffect a storage tank for suchnew flushing oil. On I the truck may bealso supported a distillate storage tank 18, which is adapted to receiveI new distillate so that such distillate may be 3 out, for example,

used in initially cleanin the differentialor transmission case of amotor car. These tanks may be provided with suitable gauges 19 and y20pump 21 is provided, operated by handle22.

I have shown a hand-operated pump because it is desirablethat the pumpbe operated at different speeds with different types of motor cars, butan electrically or motor driven pump may be used, but in such caseshould be so arranged that it can be operated at variable speeds.

Fig. 1), anda I also provide filters' 23 `and 24., each of I which maybe provided withy a removable mesh bag 25, which bags are adaptedl toperi mit the cleaning oil to pass through, but catch and hold theforeign substances. The pump is connected through lines 26 and thebranches 27 and 28 to the two tanks 17 and 18, respec- A. three-way cock29 is lprovided whereby either tank may rbe cut into or both cut out ofthe system. Similarly, a threeway cock 30 is provided for closing line26, opening it tooneor 4the other of the tanks, or for connecting it tothe suction vline 14 of the pump. The discharge line 31 is connectedlfilters in the present instance one may be usedin cleaning the fiushingoil from the crankl case, and the other in cleaning the iiushing oilfrom the differential or. transmission.4 The latter two cases are likelyto be much dirtier than the crank case, and in addition use. a greaseinstead of lubricant, and it may be desirable to use separate filters insuch instance.

vWhen it is desired to remove dirty oil from storage tank 11, as forexample, to a tank truck 38, I may connect the latter with a flexiblehose 39 having shut-oil' cock 40 to Y iitting 41, leading to pipe 42into the tank 11 near thel lower end thereof. The oil from storage maybe forced up through pipe 42 by means of air compressors (not shown), inthe following manner Air is introduced through the line 43 and branch 44through the cocks 45 and 46, and through line 47 into the top of thetank 11. At this' time the valve 48 in branchline 49 is closed andthecock 46 alsor closed offrom the Vent pipe 50.

After the tank has been cleaned as far as Y possible of this oilcontent, there still may remain some sedimentin the bottom which it willbe necessary to agitate and loosen up before it can be removed.- To thisend the branch 49 is connected to pipe 51 terminating in nozzl'e 52, asshown'. To agitato the oil,the cock 46 is open to the vent 50 to ventthe tank. The air control valve 48 is then opened to the line 51 .whilethe valve 45 is closed and air forced in through the nozzle 52, toagitato vthe oil and sediment in the bottom ofthe tank 11. After lthisthe air valve 48 is closed and the cock 45 turned to connect to the pipe47 and the cock 46 also regulated so that the air will be forced intothe top of the tank, as first described, s0 as to blow out the remainingoil and sediment. A clean-out manhole 53 is preferably pro. vided on thetop of tank 11. 54 designates a connection to manual or. power operatedsuctiboln pump should air pressure not be avail# a e.

I have heretofore referred to an adjustablev plug which it is desirableto use in certain types of motor cars. 'In the case of'some cars t edrain openingr from the crank case is so large that it permits the oilto iiow out too fast into the drip pan when I am circulating theflushing oil. It is, therefore, necessary or desirable to limit the sizeof such opening, but in as simple and expedient a manner as possible. Tothis end, the plug consists of a casing 54 which is provided with. inletopenback to the suction side ofthe pump.

ing 55 and outlet opening 56. v'Ihe inlet opend ing is provided with apair of lugs 57 and 58,

the latter being adjustably carried by the v screw 59 having a handhold60; preferably a Washer 61 is also provided. To inscrt the plug in thedischarge pipe from the crank casing, the lugs are inserted intol theopening and then spread by operating the screw 59 so as t0 ly getfrictional contact between the lugs vand the inner wall of thisdischarge pipe. These lugs maybe provided with teeth' as shown, tofacilitate such frictional contact. The outlet opening 56 is controlledby means of segmental shaped gate 62 pivoted to the casing as r i shownat 63, and provided with operating handle 64. The arrangement is suchthat by moving the gate the size of the openingran be controlled or shutoif.

It is to be understood that in vsome casesv the discharge opening fromthe crank case or other case being cleaned is sufficiently small so thatthis plug may not have to be used, but where it is too large it forms avery eiiicient means for controlling such discharge and also permittingmore pressure to be brought on the iuid in the crank case which liuidcanob lviously be introduced into the crank case under pressure faster thanwithdrawn.

In carrying out the processand for the purpose of illustration, I willdescribe the cleaning of the crank case of a motor car. v The car isdriven over a sultable rack so that operating the valves hereinbeforedescribed.

The pump is then operated and new liushing roo oil, as, for example, alight lubricating stock, ,I

is pumped through `the line 37 into the crank case, the oil passmg firstthrough one of the filters which is being used for the cleaning of theushing oil for crank cases. With the types of crank cases now generallyin use on motor vehicles, from one to two gallons of flushing oil willbe suflicient. The oil is then circulated by ,suitably operating thepump as follows: from the pump, through the corresponding filter, crankcase, drip pan, and As the flushin oil is thus circulated it has to passthroug 1 the filter which catches and col-v lects the dirt, sediment orother foreign matter which is being iushed out of the crank case. The'flushing oil is circulated a suficient number of times to effectivelyclean the crank case. In a hand pump now in use, the pump can handleapproximately five gal lons a minute. Therefore, by operating such pumpa period of five minutes, an equal of 25 gallons of flushing oil will becirculated through the crank case, and this, it has been l cleaned andydetachableuplug (if in use) removed, andthe crank-ease is ready toreceive a fresh supply ofdnbricant'.

I have described the iiseof the device and process in connectionwitlr'cleaning the crank case of a motor car. When it is desired toclean the differential or. transmission, the operation is carried out inspecifically the same manner, except that preferably after thetransmission or differential is drained, distillate may be circulated bythe pump through such casing to cut the heavy grease and foreignparticles and in such case the filter which is used for the distillateis cut into the system, and the other one cut out. After this distillatehas been suiiiciently circulated it may be led oi to storage tankl 11.Ordinarily the circulation of the distillate will be sufiicient to cleansuch transmission or differential. This distillate may be' kerosenedistillate' also other distillates may be used, if desire There may becertain cases in which the motorist or operator may want to have thedifferentialor transmission additionally flushed with lubricant oil,which can be done by cutting out the distillate filter andl dischargestorage tank and by cutting into the system the other filter and thelubricant storage tank. v I have described the process and appara.- tusin connection with motor vehicles, but, as heretofore stated, casings ofother mechanism may be cleaned in asimilar manner.

Frequently, the crank cases of automobiles contain sulphurous 'or otheracids from the explosions-in the cylinders, which, if left in the crankcase, eat away the bearings. The methods of cleaning crank cases of theprior art do not effectively remove such acids. By

my process and apparatus, the flushing oil comes into suchintimate'contact with allparts of the crank case and the moving partstherein as to be able to remove, lry absorption or washing, all suchacids. his flushing oil being new', clean oil has a maximum .absorptioneiiiciency for such acids.

and lthe connection from the pump to the lubricant containing case,particularly when washing or flushing the transmission and diii'erentialcasings. In such event, the hose 37 is detachably connected directly tothe top of the three-Way valve 34. as illustrated in dotted lines at theleft of Fig. 1.;

By the term lubricant container as used y in the claims I intend this tobe defined as the element illustrated in the drawings and designated l,i. e. a power unit containing movingparts adapted to vbe lubricated bylubricant ,f

contained in the casing. AvI disclaim the use of the term lubricantcontainer intliis application merely aS astorage tank for lubricant.

'I claim as my invention :y v

1. An apparatus, comprising vin combination, a lubricant container, apump, connections for the inlet and discharge of'said ump adapted tohave communication with t einlet and discharge of such lubricantcontainer, a filter interposed in such connectionswhereby cleaning oilis caused to have a'cyclic cir- Vculation through the lubricantcontainer,

pump and iilter, a storage receptacle containv ing cleaning oil,connections between the latter and said pump, and a second storage re rceptacle isolated from said cyclic circulatory system to which usedlubricant and cleaning oil may be passed'. 2. An apparatus, comprisingin combination, a lubricant container, apump, connections for the inletand discharge of said ump adapted to have communication with-t e inletand discharge of such lubricant container, a filter interposed in suchconnections whereby cleaning oil is caused to have a cyclic cir-lculation through theA lubricant container,

ump and lter, a storage receptacle containing cleaning oil, connectionsbetween the latter and said pump, and a second storage receptacleisolated from said cyclic circulatory system to which used lubricant andcleaning oil mabe passed, and means, including a valve, or divertingused lubricant directly to said storage receptacle without passing samethrough the cyclic circulatory system,

3. An apparatus, comprising in combination, a lubricant container,- apump, connections for the inlet and. discharge of sai-d pump adapted tohavev communication with the inlet and discharge of such lubricantcontainer,

a filter interposed in such connections whereby cleaning oil is causedto have a cyclic cirpump and filter, a storage receptacle containingcleaning oil, connections between the latter and said pump, and a secondstorage re- 12o." culation through the lubricant container, i

Il. An apparatus, comprising in combination, a. lubricant container, anda portable cleaning apparatus therefor including a movable support and acyclic circulatory system mounted ythereon including a pump, connectionsfor the inlet and discharge end of .said pump adapted to havecomn'iunication with the inlet and discharge of such lubricantcontainer, a filter interposed in such connections, a storage receptaclecontaining cleaning oil, connections between the latter and said pump,and a second storage receptacle isolated from said cyclic circulatorysystem'to which used lubricant and cleaning oil may be passed.

5. An apparatus, comprising in combination, a lubricantcontainer, and aportable cleaning apparatus therefor including a movable support and acyclic circulatory system 'mounted thereon including' a pump,connections for the inlet and discharge end of-said pump adapted to havecommunication With the inlet and discharge of such lubricant container,a filter interposed in such connections,

separate storage receptacles each containing different kinds of cleaningoil, valved connections between the latter and said pump permittingwithdrawal from the desired relceptacle, and an additional storagereceptacle posed in such connections whereby cleaning v oil is caused tohave a cyclic circulation through the lubricant container, pump anddesired iilter, a storage receptacle isolated from said cycliccirculatory system to which used lubricant and cleaning oil may bepassed, branches communicating between said pump discharge and each ofsaid filters, and a control valve interposed in the connections betweenthe pump and said filters.

WILLIAM L. OSBORNE.

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